Top councillors will next week consider who will develop the Saxonvale land in Frome, with both Bristol-based Acorn Property Group and locally-based Mayday Saxonvale putting forward plans for the site.

Somerset Council's executive will make a decision on next steps for the land it owns on Wednesday 31 July.

Mayday's submission also comes with the announcement of a new partnership with Frome Area Community Land Trust (FACLT) to strengthen Mayday's proposal.

If their bid is successful, the trust will take ownership of the site's freehold, with Mayday taking a leasehold to complete the development.

By retaining the freehold, the CLT would act as the land custodian, "providing security over community ownership of the site in perpetuity".

The land trust would also retain the freehold of the affordable homes on site, "providing security over the social rent properties, such that they cannot be sold in the future into schemes such as 'right to buy'."

This new partnership sits alongside Mayday's partnership with Stories, a socially responsible development company, which would act as development manager, running the development.

The Saxonvale site lies in the heart of Frome town centre, being bordered by the River Frome to the north, the Merchant's Barton car park to the west, the existing properties on Vicarage Street to the south and the town's Lidl store to the east.

Mayday Saxonvale, Stories, and FACLT together outside Somerset Council offices (image supplied)

The 12-acre site is currently sealed off to the public, but has road access leading into it from two sides: Garsdale to the east and Saxonvale itself to the west (near the Silk Mill Studios).

Saxonvale was purchased by Mendip District Council in 2018, with the council purchasing land that once belonged to Notts Industries and Terramond and using more than £3 million from Homes England to decontaminate and clear the site for development.

The site is allocated within the Mendip Local Plan Part II (which has since been carried over to Somerset Council) to deliver a minimum of 250 homes along with commercial space and additional town centre car parking.

The Mayday plan will deliver 263 homes – including at least 30 per cent affordable homes with a target of 50 per cent – plus over 10,000 sqm of commercial and community space, new public spaces, a riverside park and playground, a hotel and a lido.

John Clarke, chair of FACLT, said: "We are thrilled to collaborate with Mayday, a developer that shares our values and aspirations. This partnership fulfils our core mission of providing genuinely affordable homes.

"Crucially, FACLT will own the freehold of the social rented homes.

"This means these homes are secured for the community in perpetuity and are not subject to the right-to-buy. Furthermore, owning the freehold will generate income that guarantees future financial stability for FACLT; income that will enable the growth of our organisation, creating opportunities to provide much-needed genuinely affordable housing for our community and those most in need.

"We believe this partnership significantly enhances the social and community value of the bid for the Saxonvale site. We urge Somerset Council's Executive to recognise the Mayday Saxonvale bid as the best value for Frome and Somerset, delivering lasting benefits for our community."

Artist's impression of the Mayday Saxonvale proposals for Frome. Image: Mayday Saxonvale.

Acorn recently submitted revised plans for its own Saxonvale regeneration scheme, increasing the amount of commercial space within the site following the judicial review in October 2023 which saw their planning permission quashed by the High Court.

Acorn has stated that the vision for the site would deliver significant improvements to local roads and schools, on top of the additional commercial space which was now included.

Strategic partnership manager Amy Proctor said: "We have always believed in our vision for Saxonvale which will transform this long-awaited redundant site, delivering much needed housing, community and commercial space – in addition to £2m in Section 106 contributions, including more than £1m towards education.

"We will ensure the commercial space is sustainable, deliverable and a realistic offering for Frome, we will continue to engage with the local community and work towards a detailed application later in the year."

Meanwhile Paul Oster, Mayday director added: "Bringing our local community land trust into our proposal for Saxonvale will solidify our commitments to putting Frome first, and provide additional security over the community ownership of the site.

"We are excited about what this will mean for FACLT, enabling them to expand their resources and capability to deliver more for Frome. This is just the start as we look to invite local groups and individuals to contribute to the development and enhance what it can mean for our town.

"As a Liberal Democrat council, we know they understand the benefits of community development, opting for community development of towns and cities in their manifesto.

"Mayday Saxonvale's development model could pave the way for genuine community-led development across the UK.

"This scale of community-led development has never been achieved in the UK in a master planning context – Frome and Somerset could lead the way and initiate a better way of building in our communities."

The meeting of the council executive will be held at Frome Town Hall on Wednesday 31 at 2 pm, where the council executive will openly compare the two submitted bid proposals from both Mayday and Acorn.